Content-Specific Broadcast Cellular Networks based on User Demand Prediction: A Revenue Perspective

The Long Term Evolution (LTE) broadcast is a promising solution to cope with exponentially increasing user traffic by broadcasting common user requests over the same frequency channels. In this paper, we propose a novel network framework provisioning broadcast and unicast services simultaneously. For each serving file to users, a cellular base station determines either to broadcast or unicast the file based on user demand prediction examining the file's content specific characteristics such as: file size, delay tolerance, price sensitivity. In a network operator's revenue maximization perspective while not inflicting any user payoff degradation, we jointly optimize resource allocation, pricing, and file scheduling. In accordance with the state of the art LTE specifications, the proposed network demonstrates up to 32% increase in revenue for a single cell and more than a 7-fold increase for a 7 cell coordinated LTE broadcast network, compared to the conventional unicast cellular networks.Comment: 6 pages; This paper will appear in the Proc. of IEEE WCNC 201

Exploiting Regional Differences: A Spatially Adaptive Random Access

In this paper, we discuss the potential for improvement of the simple random access scheme by utilizing local information such as the received signal-to-interference-plus-noise-ratio (SINR). We propose a spatially adaptive random access (SARA) scheme in which the transmitters in the network utilize different transmit probabilities depending on the local situation. In our proposed scheme, the transmit probability is adaptively updated by the ratio of the received SINR and the target SINR. We investigate the performance of the spatially adaptive random access scheme. For the comparison, we derive an optimal transmit probability of ALOHA random access scheme in which all transmitters use the same transmit probability. We illustrate the performance of the spatially adaptive random access scheme through simulations. We show that the performance of the proposed scheme surpasses that of the optimal ALOHA random access scheme and is comparable with the CSMA/CA scheme.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Asymptotic Behavior of Ultra-Dense Cellular Networks and Its Economic Impact

This paper investigates the relationship between base station (BS) density and average spectral efficiency (SE) in the downlink of a cellular network. This relationship has been well known for sparse deployment, i.e. when the number of BSs is small compared to the number of users. In this case the SE is independent of BS density. As BS density grows, on the other hand, it has previously been shown that increasing the BS density increases the SE, but no tractable form for the SE-BS density relationship has yet been derived. In this paper we derive such a closed-form result that reveals the SE is asymptotically a logarithmic function of BS density as the density grows. Further, we study the impact of this result on the network operator's profit when user demand varies, and derive the profit maximizing BS density and the optimal amount of spectrum to be utilized in closed forms. In addition, we provide deployment planning guidelines that will aid the operator in his decision if he should invest in densifying his network or in acquiring more spectrum.Comment: This paper will appear in Proc. IEEE Global Commun. Conf. (GLOBECOM) 201

Resource Allocation with Reverse Pricing for Communication Networks

Reverse pricing has been recognized as an effective tool to handle demand uncertainty in the travel industry (e.g., airlines and hotels). To investigate its viability for communication networks, we study the practical limitations of (operator-driven) time-dependent pricing that has been recently introduced, taking into account demand uncertainty. Compared to (operator-driven) time-dependent pricing, we show that the proposed pricing scheme can achieve "triple-win" solutions: an increase in the total average revenue of the operator; higher average resource utilization efficiency; and an increment in the total average payoff of the users. Our findings provide a new outlook on resource allocation, and design guidelines for adopting the reverse pricing scheme.Comment: to appear in IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC) 2016, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (6 pages, 3 figures